Rei used the commotion to make her way towards the curtains, successfully slipping by. She made sure no one saw her as she slipped behind the curtain. She was met with a wooden hall, and at the end of the hall she saw the shadow of a scene she immediately hated. Airon was being pulled away by a chain around his neck.  The shadows disappeared as they moved onwards. She narrowed her eyes and quickly ran down the hall. She could hear the loud grunt Airon gave out. Not on my watch!

She silently moved towards the corner and placed her back against the wall. She peered over slightly to see how many there were. There were three Dai Li agents pulling him with the chain, him grunting and pulling back. Airon suddenly stopped and his nose tensed before his body relaxed. The Dai Li agents seemed confused at how calm he was now. Rei turned around and poised her hand, behind the corner. She made a grabbing motion, and the agents froze. They had no control left. Rei made her hand into a tight fist and all three of them fell onto their knees, clutching their stomachs. Rei suddenly released her hand and the three fell onto the floor, weeping in pain. She made a small motion to Airon and he ran over. Without exchanging words they ran down the hall. Rei went and peeked through the curtain to see the commotion gradually dying down. She felt a tug at her white dress and turned to see Airon staring at large window, one Airon might be able to fit though. Quickly opening it, she and Airon jumped out and ran away from the palace. Luckily it was only on the first floor. They ran behind a shop to see an abandoned alley way, probably where supplies were delivered during the day. As soon as they were out of sight, Rei threw herself at Airon. He stiffened at the sudden bone-crushing hug. Rei started to weep into his short fur. Airon's body calmed.

"You idiot. Don't ever leave me again." Rei mumbled. Airon shook his head and hugged her back using his neck.

"You idiot. I didn't leave you deliberately."  He answered.

"I missed you so much. You have no idea how strange the people are you left me with!" Airon laughed at her and shook his head.

"Do you really love me that much?"Airon teased.

"Yes." Rei answered. After giving Airon a last squeeze, Rei stepped away. She wiped away her tears and looked at her white sleeve, only to realize that her makeup was smudged.

"I must probably look hideous right now." Rei laughed sheepishly. Airon titled his head.

"Well..." Rei shook her head.

"Don't answer that," she wiped at her face again. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" she suddenly asked worriedly. He shook his head.

"No. Nothing like that. The King is actually rather nice. It's the Dai Li agents I don't like. Chaining me up the entire time. I was supposed to go into the banquet with the King but as soon as the guards saw some kind of boy inside they gave me over to the Dai Li to be taken away. I'm not sure why though." Airon shrugged.

"Probably Aang. Remember that bison you got stolen with? That's his." Airon hummed in though.

"So who's this Aang? One of the guys you're travelling with?" Rei nodded.

"Yeah," she suddenly turned serious. "He's the Avatar," Airon narrowed his eyes and nodded. Rei sighed.  "Do you have any idea where his bison is?" Airon hummed and tilted his head from side to side.

"I might. I overheard some Dai Li agents talk about a place called 'Lake Laogai'. Familiar?" Rei shook her head.

"No. Not in the slightest. But it gives a clue, so I'm sure it will boast Aang's confidence," Airon nodded. Rei looked upwards at the sky. "Come on. It's late." Rei led Airon towards their temporary home and waited, hidden, until no one was left in the street before entering the house. On entering, Sokka was immediately up in her face.

"Where were you!? You have no idea what we went through with that idiot long Feng! Wait... uhm..." Sokka suddenly stopped, pointing behind Rei. She smirked and let Airon inside, him struggling a bit with his large antlers. Everyone stared at him with wide eyes. The attention went to Airon and he smirked.

"Wait... didn't you say..." Sokka started.

"A white stag. I thought you were joking." Rei laughed at Aang.

"So yeah, this here is Airon." Rei said, indicating to him.

"How do you do." Sokka suddenly screamed and passed out. Katara and Aang stared at him with wide eyes while Toph frowned. Rei couldn't help but laugh hysterically and Airon soon joined her.

"Your faces are the best!"

"It-it talks!" Katara gasped.

"Madame, I am not an 'it' for I am a 'he'," Rei snickered at the 'formal' tone Airon was using. She stared at him open mouthed. Airon turned to Rei to whisper. "Are all mortals like this?" Rei snickered.

"Anyway, we have a clue to where Appa is." Rei told Aang and they all suddenly went back to normal; even Sokka was waking up gradually.

"Really?" Aang asked hopefully. She nodded.

"I overheard some Dai Li agents talk about a place called 'Lake Laogai'." Airon explained.

"And we have an idea that's where Appa is taken." Rei continued. Aang nodded.

"Laogai..." Aang whispered to himself. Sokka stood up and rubbed his head.

"Guys, I just had the strangest dream!" He yelped.

"Really? What was it about?" Airon inquired. Sokka yelled and moved up against the wall.

"Y-y-you talk!" He yelled. Airon smirked and turned and walked over to an empty part of the room where he laid down. Rei followed and lay down against him, her head resting on his neck. She snuggled against him and relaxed.

"Sokka, can you look for a place called 'Lake Laogai'?" Aang asked. Sokka blinked before regaining his composure.

"Uh, sure. Why?" He asked and went to find his map.

"Because that's where Mister Airon thinks Appa may be." Aang explained as he helped Sokka search though their travel bags.

"I see what you mean by 'strange'," Airon whispered to her and she chuckled silently. "The one with the arrows is the Avatar, right?" Rei nodded.

"Airbending tattoos, and with the Nomads having been destroyed a century ago; he must be well over a hundred." Airon nodded.

"Okay! Got it! Lake Laogai is within Ba Sing Se. It's incredibly small and abandoned. There's nothing near it. Are you sure that's what you heard, deer man?" Airon tensed and Rei laughed silently to herself.

"I am hundred percent certain I heard them talking about Lake Laogai; I'm not deaf. They said that they will be transporting the 'wild bison' to Lake Laogai." Airon sneered at them, annoyed. Rei rubbed his neck sympathetically.   

"Sokka is an idiot; you'll come to learn that." He nodded his head stiffly. A knock suddenly came at the door.

"That's probably dinner." Katara revealed. Rei and Airon suddenly looked to each other and had a silent conversation. Airon jumped up and ran into one of the bedrooms before Katara could open the door. Katara and Aang accepted the food and went back inside carrying it. As soon as they were sure the person was gone, Airon came back out.

"Why'd you hide like that, deer man?" Sokka asked.

"Because I technically kidnapped him from the King." Rei laughed sheepishly. Toph suddenly burst out laughing while the rest gave her horrified looks. She shook her head and went over towards the food. Luckily along with the beef soup they gave a basket of fruits.

"I'll take Aang's soup!" Sokka cheered.

"And mine." Rei spoke. Sokka looked confused.

"Haven't you realized that she's a vegetarian, doofus?" Katara asked, her hands on her hips.

"Huh? What do you mean? I thought she was just being nice and giving me her food." Sokka said, clueless. Rei rolled her eyes and went to grab two apples for herself and Airon and tossed one to Aang in the process. She and Airon went to sit against the wall again, Rei lying against him. She started to eat her apple after giving Airon his.

"So what are we going to do about this 'Lake Laogai'?" Sokka questioned.

"We'll check it out while you guys deal with the king and whatnot. It lifts some burden of your shoulders." Rei told them, flicking her wrist dismissively. They agreed.

"And then in the meantime, since we have a month to waste, we can work a little more on Twinkletoes's bending." Toph spoke and they all agreed.

"And while Rei and deer man checks out the lake, we can create posters!" Sokka cheered. Rei smirked and shook her head. After eating dinner everyone went off to their rooms.

"Rei, aren't you-." Katara stopped as she realized both Rei and Airon were already asleep, snuggled up against each other. She msiled and went to grab a blanket. She placed it over the both of them before moving to her own bed.

Rei woke up, snuggled up against Airon. She smiled and stood up, careful not to wake him. She went into the bathroom to get ready. She combed her boyish-short hair, sharing the mirror with Aang, Sokka and Katara. Katara moved into the girl' room to wake Toph. Rei finished soon after, dressed in her plain knee-length pants and top rimmed with orange and purple. Rei exited the room and went over to Airon and lightly shook his awake. He opened one eye and stared at her in annoyance.

"Get up." she said and moved into the kitchen. There was still fruit left from the previous night. She grabbed two oranges and moved back into the main room. Katara looked exited while Toph looked horrified.

"Let's go on a girls' day out!" Katara cheered. Rei paled.

"Uh, no. Airon and I are going out today." she explained, tossing an orange towards Airon.

"Huh? We are?" He asked, confused, before getting hit in the face with the orange. "Ow." he said plainly.

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" Rei rolled her eyes.

"Uhm, no, I think I'm okay. We're going to get me some new clothes before going to the lake."

"How are you going to hide antlers?" Toph questioned.

"Don't worry about that." Rei said, walking over to Airon and started to peel his orange for him. He nodded at her in thank before eating the pieces. Katara sighed in defeat. After eating she and Airon went outside, Airon dematerializing and staying invisible. After searching for a while, they found a clothing store which didn't contain only dresses. Airon stayed outside while Rei went inside.

"Ah madam, what is it you require?" The male shopkeeper asked.

"Black, purple and orange." Rei spoke, realizing she had no particular request. He nodded and led her to a section.

"These are all the non-Earth Kingdom clothes we have. You might not find what you're looking for." Rei nodded and started to search. She found one pair of clothes in the right colours. A black tank top that only covered her chest and went over one shoulder. It was rimmed with orange and a rather expensive gem was on the strap over the left shoulder. The pants were similar to her other. Black pants that reached above her knee. It was rimmed with orange and she decided to wrap her purple sash around the waist. She also found other normal clothing similar to her first, only dark brown with emerald. She decided that she would keep the top that covered her chest to herself since if she wore it her back with the burns would be exposed. After she paid and went out, still in her old clothes, she and AIron decided to head towards the lake. They walked; Airon still dematerialized, until they were well past any guards into the forest in Ba Sing Se. Rei jumped onto the materialized Airon and they ran towards the lake. The lake was further than they had expected and eventually decided to fly up to make sure they weren't lost. Turns out they were extremely close. They made it to the lake to find what Sokka had said was true; it was completely abandoned. Rei frowned.

"I'll take the right, you take the left. Meet back here in an hour." Airon nodded and they dispersed. Going in their appointed directions, they both searched for anything that might strike as 'suspicious'. After an hour they both returned.

"Nothing," Airon spoke and Rei shook her head. "But I was sure I heard right. Maybe there's another lake with the same name?" Rei shook her head and sighed.   

"I think maybe it's a code of some sorts." Airon nodded. Rei sighed and looked up. The sun was already setting.

"Let's go back." Airon offered. Rei nodded and they both moved on. Airon dematerialized on the way back. As they went back, they stopped to admire the Palace's front view before moving on. They made it back to their temporarily home just as the sun went down; still early in the night. On entering they witnessed Katara and Toph's appearances.

"Wow, you two look nice." Rei complemented as she entered and closed the door. Airon materialized once inside, surprising the team.

"You can go invisible too?!" Sokka yelled. Airon rolled his eyes and went to sit on the three-man coach, taking up the whole space.

"You find anything?" Katara asked.

"We're still looking into it. We think it may be a code of some sort." Rei admitted. Katara sighed.

"It's okay." Aang told Rei. She nodded. Sokka sighed dramatically and fell onto the ground.

"Well at least we managed to put up posters." he said.